Powell Calls Fed’s 0.75% Rate Increase ‘Unusually Large,’ Warns of Slowing Economy

The Federal Reserve announced a three-quarters of a percentage point increase in interest rates Wednesday, marking the sharpest rate hike since 1994. Central bankers also predict elevated unemployment rates, prolonged higher prices and a slowdown in economic activity. 

Overall economic activity appears to have picked up after edging down in the first quarter, Fed officials wrote in their statement released Wednesday at the end of their two-day policy meeting. Job gains have been robust in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low, the statement noted, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and ongoing supply chain issues have contributed to persistent inflation. 

“Inflation remains well above our longer run goal of 2% over the 12 months ending in April, total PCE prices rose 6.3%, excluding the volatile food and energy categories,” Fed Chair Jerome Powell said during a press conference following the release of the statement. 

Equities largely traded sideways following the release of the Federal Open Market Committee statement, with the S&P 500 losing 0.5% and the Nasdaq adding around 0.2%. 

“Markets loathe uncertainty and unpredictability,” Josh Olszewicz, head of research at Valkyrie Investments, said. “The 75 [basis points]-hike today represents both an acceleration of interest rates and potentially a higher target Fed fund rate between 2.75% and 3%.”

Bitcoin and ether extended their downward slide, in advance of the Fed announcement. 

“Digital assets have significantly correlated with US financial markets in recent months, both of which have continued to bleed lower,” Olszewicz said. “A decrease in downward volatility will only likely be achieved with a pause or reversal of the current Fed policy and direction.”

Central bankers expect the federal funds to end 2022 at 3.4%, up from their March estimate of 1.9%, the statement said. 

All 18 Fed officials who participated in the meeting expect the central bank to raise interest rates to 3% before the end of the year, economic projections from the meeting show. Members also lowered their gross domestic product expectations for 2022 from an expected 2% to 3.3% increase to a 1% to 2% increase.

Inflation has “surprised to the upside,” Powell, who long called the higher prices transitory, noted. 

Powell in May said central bankers expected to raise rates 50 basis points in June and July, before changing the narrative on Monday by signaling a 75 basis point increase. 

“When I offered that guidance at the last meeting, I did say that it was subject to the economy performing about in line with expectations,” Powell said. “By this point, we had actually been expecting to see clear signs of at least inflation flattening out and ideally beginning to decline.” 

Investors and consumers should not expect such large rate hikes going forward, but nothing is off the table, Powell said.

“Clearly, today’s 75 basis point increase is an unusually large one and I do not expect moves of this size to be common,” Powell said. “From the perspective of today, either a 50 basis point or a 75 basis point increase seems most likely at our next meeting. We will, however, make our decisions meeting by meeting, and will continue to communicate our thinking as clearly as we can.”

This is a developing story.

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